Time and again Islam gives us examples of how important it is to strike a balance in all that we do. Balance family with work, spouses with parents and the world with the hereafter etc…

In the Quran Allah tells us that we are a balanced nation {Q2:143}. We are not to go to extremes in anything we do.

As a child one of my favorite stories was about two brothers one of whom decided to go on a religious sabbatical. He entrusted the care of his family to his brother and took off. For the whole time he was away, he dedicated himself solely to worshiping Allah. He secluded himself so that he had no disruption from anyone.

But the interesting part of the story is that the brother who stayed behind looking after his family and his brother’s family had more reward in the sight of Allah than the brother who did nothing but worship Allah day and night.

That is because the brother who secluded himself did not balance out his life. He abandoned his family who were his responsibility and rather than deal with them, he chose to hand over their care to his brother.

Islam wants us to find balance in everything we do. Take time out to play because playing with your family is worship and grants you a reward. Take time to listen to your family, to help them with their troubles and to make them happy because that is also worship. Take time to work hard and earn a living, because that is worship. Take time to pray, fast and perform pilgrimage because that is also worship.

The beauty of Islam is that every action we take can be an act of worship depending on our intention.

I leave you with this story which perhaps more than I can, explains the true importance and necessity of balance in Islam.

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A pious man who lived in the woods and did nothing but worship Allah day and night was pleased with himself. He felt sure that no one was as devoted to Allah as he was.

One day he had a dream that there was someone in town who was more pious than he was.

He woke up stunned. He felt certain that his dream was just a dream and couldn’t be true. But just to be sure he went into town to find this person.

The man turned out to be a shopkeeper. So the pious man found a corner close to the store and sat there all day observing the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper was smiling with his customers and busy tending to his store all day. This man can’t be more pious than me, the pious man thought to himself. He observed as when it was time for salat the shopkeeper closed his shop and disappeared for some time before returning and resuming his business.

After awhile the shopkeeper came over to the pious man and asked if he needed help with anything. The pious man then shared his dream with the shopkeeper who laughed.

“That’s very simple for me to explain” he said “but you have to do something for me first.”
“Anything!” said the pious man.
“Take this saucer, there’s mercury in it. Carry it to the end of the street and come back in half an hour then I’ll explain. But, if any of the mercury spills I won’t tell you anything.”

So the pious man took off in a hurry. As he was running the mercury nearly spilled and he had to slow down. He went as fast as he could, trying to make it back in time without spilling the mercury.

Finally, he reached the storekeeper huffing, puffing and sweating.

“Here’s your mercury, safe and sound now please explain to me, why you are more pious than me.” he demanded

“Well, how many times did you think of Allah when you were carrying the saucer?” the shopkeeper asked him

“Think of Allah! I didn’t think of him at all, I was so focused on not spilling the mercury and making it back on time.”

The shopkeeper smiled. “Well I am carrying mercury in a saucer all the time as I tend to my customers and manage my business, but I remember Allah all the time and never forget my Lord in my dealings with other men.”

It is easy to worship Allah if that is all we do, but remembering Allah in the midst of a busy life, that takes work.

So just because you perform hajj or umrah every year or stay up all night praying qiyamul lay doesn’t necessarily make you better than a shepherd who watches over his flock, or a taxi driver who earns and provides for his family.

What matters is that in everything we do, we are mindful of Allah. We seek His help, His pleasure, and His guidance. And most importantly avoid excess and extremes. After all, Islam is about balance.

Have a safe and happy Jumu’a

image via flickr